Analyze It 'can move forward' off defeat in Belmont Derby
Fresh off a 1-2 finish in the Grade 1 United Nations on Saturday, trainer Chad Brown sent out a slew of turf workers Sunday morning at Belmont Park, some in preparation for Stars & Stripes Day on July 7 at Belmont.
Brown's contingent was led by Grade 1, $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational hopeful Analyze It, who breezed five furlongs in 1:02.76 in company with graded stakes winner Projected. Previously undefeated, including a pair of Grade 3 victories, Analyze It finished second to Catholic Boy on June 2 in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge, the local prep for the 1 ¼-mile Belmont Derby.
"He went great, so he's on target for the Derby," Brown said of the Point of Entry colt's work. "I thought he ran into a really good horse in Catholic Boy in the Pennine Ridge. He ran very well; our horse had no excuse. He might've had a little time between races where I could've had him a little better. It's not an excuse, he had every chance to win, but I believe this horse can move forward now that he has some recent fitness in him. I might've given him a little too much to do after the Transylvania heading into that race."
On Saturday at Belmont, Significant Form and Mighty Scarlett put in their final works for the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational, going five furlongs in 1:00.50 in company with one another. The Brown pair are both exiting Belmont's prep for the Oaks, the Grade 3 Wonder Again, in which Significant Form and Mighty Scarlett finished second and third, respectively.
"They both ran well," Brown said of his fillies' performance in the Wonder Again. "It was a bit disappointing for Significant Form as the favorite. She had every chance to win turning for home and it just wasn't her day. I'm confident given the way she's training that she can rebound off that effort.
"For it being her first try in a stakes race, I thought Mighty Scarlett ran really well," Brown added. "I think more distance should help her."
On the main track on Saturday, Brown sent out Grade 1 Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in advance of the Grade 1 Haskell. Another runner-up in a Triple Crown race, Gronkowski, who nearly thwarted Justify's Triple Crown bid in the Belmont, was absent from the worktab this weekend, but should resume training next week, according to Brown.
Completing the Sunday turf works for Brown were A Raving Beauty and Sistercharlie (five furlongs in 1:01.21), Almanaar and Robert Bruce (five furlongs in 1:02.94), Rushing Fall and Quidura (five furlongs in 1:01), and Precieuse and Uni (four furlongs in 49.21). A Raving Beauty and Sister Charlie are being pointed to the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana on July 21 at Saratoga Race Course, Almanaar and Robert Bruce to the Grade 1 Arlington Million, Rushing Fall to the Grade 3, $150,000 Lake George on July 20 at Saratoga, Brown said.
Brown has also penciled in Favorable Outcome for a start in the Grade 2, $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship on Stars & Stripes Day. The 4-year-old son of Flatter breezed four furlongs in 49.03 over the Oklahoma training track on Sunday in Saratoga.
"He worked good, so we'll give it a shot," said the trainer. "It's shaping up to be a tough, tough race but we'll give it a shot. He seems to be doing well."